OPTICAL PRISM | COVER STORY
Hill named Transitions Brand Ambassador finalist
BY DENIS LANGLOIS
A
Canadian eye care professional is in the running for a top award at the upcoming Transitions Innovation Awards .
Optician Rachel Hill , owner of Personal Optical and Personal Eyez in St . Catharines , Ont ., is a finalist for the 2020 Transitions Brand Ambassador honour .
Two California-based ECPs are also finalists for the award , which “ celebrates an individual who best showcases their dedication to be an influential advocate of the Transitions brand .”
Along with promoting Transitions lenses at her two eyewear shops , Hill is also part of the company ’ s Canadian Pro-Forum , which provides insights to the company on a variety of industry topics , issues and trends as well as feedback on product recommendations , advertising , patient communication , demonstration tools and trade programs to meet patient needs .
The Transitions Innovation Awards are to be handed out at Transitions Academy , set for Jan . 16-19 in Orlando , Fla .
Recently , Optical Prism spoke with Hill about her nomination , passion for Transitions lenses and how her business endured during the pandemic .
What are your thoughts on
Q being named a finalist for the Transitions brand ambassador award ?
I am naturally very excited and proud to be considered for this award . Not to mention being the only Canadian in this category . I have two amazing nominees against me and it is an honour to share this opportunity alongside them .
What fuels your passion for
Q advocating for Transitions lenses ?
I believe in their product , I have for years . I am passionate about healthy vision , which includes protecting your eyes in between regular eye exams . That means making certain that they are protected from UV and blue light at all times . Transitions lenses offer this protection and it is something I don ' t need to worry about on my busy day .
What are some of the ways that
Q you promote Transitions within your store and to customers ?
I wear them everyday . That is the best example . By wearing my Transitions lenses in ( and out of ) the office , it shows my patients that I truly believe in the product . When we discuss lens options and I mention Transitions , most people comment about the indoor tint . Some are so skeptical that I need to place my lenses into the Transitions lens changer to prove it .
What do you enjoy about
Q Transitions Academy ?
Academy is such a privilege to attend . The ability to connect with other colleagues from the US and Canada is a great experience . We truly learn from each other as well as the education sessions that Transitions Academy provides . I am always interested in the new product launches and marketing , which allows me to share information with my patients .
This has been a tough year-anda-half for Canadian ECPs . How
Q have you been able to weather the COVID-19 pandemic ?
I was very scared when Covid first hit and how this would affect myself and my business . I am a very passionate optician and it personally hit me hard to be told not to work . Thankfully , we were able to see patients for emergencies only which did help my mental health . But I turned to online learning and social media marketing to update my patients on our office updates .
When we returned to work , we were swamped with patient care . Many people were on budgets and offering Transitions lenses to give them both clear and sun lenses in one package was a great answer for their eye care needs . OP
22 OPTICAL PRISM | October 2021